Automatic water-feed acetylene-generator.



4 I. MUMMA'. AUTOMATIC WATER FEED ACETYLENE GENERATOR.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1908.

1,014,715; Patented Jan. 16,1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c

I. MUMMA. AUTOMATIC WATER FEED AGETYLENE GENERATOR.

APPLICATION IILED SEPT. 30, 1908J V 1,014,715, Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0, WASHINGTON, D- c.

ATTORNEY;

' 1. MUMMA.

AUTOMATIC WATER FEED AGETYLENE GENERATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.30, 1908.

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

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AUTOMATIC WATERFEED AQBTYLENE GENERATOR. APPLIGATION FILED $22130, 1908.

1,014,715. Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

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WITNESSES INVEN TOR:

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I. 'MUMMA.

AUTOMATIC WATER FEED AGETYLENE GENERATOR. APPLICATION IIL'BD smmso,1908.

1,014,715, Patented Jan.16,1912.

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IRA MUMMA, or DAYTONQOHIO.

AUTOMATIC WATER-FEED ACETYLENE-GENEBMATOR.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 30, 1908. Serial No. 455,521.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, IRA MUMMA, a cltizen of the Uni-ted States, residingat Dayton, 1n

the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Automatic Water-Feed Acetylene-Generators;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the'invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to acetylene gas generators, and moreparticularly to that type of generator known as the water feedgenerator.

The object of the invention is primarily to improve and simplify theconstruction of the generator as a whole; and to render the same moresimple and less expensive of construction and operation.

Further, it is an object of my invention to so construct the generatorthat the water will be fed directly and quickly to the carbid and willbe fed in the exact quantities necessary to generate the amount of gasrequired to supply the burners; to provide improved safe-guards toprevent accidents in. the manipulation of the machine; and to soconstruct the machine as a whole that the parts composing the same canbe quickly and easily disconnected and the machine taken apart forrepairs, transportation, storage and the like.

With these and other objects in view my invent-ion consists in certainnovel features and in certain combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter to be described, and then more particularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partly insection, of an acetylene gas generator embodying my invention; Fig. 2 isa front elevation of the water reservoir and gasometer shown in Fig. 1,with the gas generator proper removed; Fig. 3 is a plan view of thegenerator shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4: is a sectional view of the condensingchamber, showing the service pipe and the relief pipe; Fig. 5 is asectional view of the condensing chamber, showing the blow-off pipe;Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly in section, of the carbid container; Fig.7 is a development of the blank from which the central carbidcompartment is formed; Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view of the gasometershowing the weight for balancing the same; Fig. 9 is a detail view ofthe catch for the controlling lever; Fig. 10 is a vertical, sectionalview through the double valve for regulating the water supply; and Fig.11 is a front elevation of this double valve, showing the manner inwhich it is controlled by the action of the gasometer.

In these drawingsI have illustrated one embodiment of my invention andhave shown the same as comprising a cylindrical casing 1 having abottom2 near the lower end thereof and a horizontal partition or false bottom3 arranged some distance above the bottom 2 and dividing the spacewithin the casing 1 into upper and lower compartments. The uppercompartment A forms a water receptacle while the lower compartment Bcomprises a condensing chamber. Suitable means are provided for fillingthe water receptacle A, such as a funnel a secured to the outside of thecasing 1 and communicating with the interior of the receptacle by meansof a port a.

The usual gasometer or inverted bell C is supported within the waterreceptacle A and is provided with laterally extending arms OZ havingtheir outer ends notched and adapted to engage the upright or verticalmembers of a bail or double guide rod D and thus maintain the gasometerin a vertical position and permit the same to rise and fall freely asthe amount of gas is increased or decreased. 1

An inlet or supply pipe 17 is supported within the'water receptacle Anear the center thereof and extends from a point above the top-thereofthrough the partition 3 and is provided at a point beneath saidpartition with an inlet port 6. The lower end of this pipe is surroundedby a substantially cylindrical wall 6 which is secured at its upper endto the lower surface of the partition 3 and extends to within a shortdistance of the bottom 2 of the condensing chamber and forms within thesame awash-chamber b. It will be observed that this wash-chamber isentirely surrounded by water, and, inasmuch as its lower endterminatesabove the bottom 2 of the condensing chamber, it is in freecommunication with said chamber and the water can rise and fall thereinas Patented Jan. 16, 1912..

the water in the condensing chamber rises and falls. A pipe m extendsthrough the walls of the condensing chamber and washchamber and has itsdischarge mouth arranged near the bottom of said wash-chamber. The outerend of this pipe communicates with the generating chamber as hereinafterdescribed and the gas is conveyed from this chamber to the wash-chamber,and, as the pipe m extends for a considerable distance through the waterin the condensing chamber, the gas iscooled before it is discharged intothe water near the bottom of the wash-chamber b and is, therefore,thoroughly washed by the water in said chamber as it rises from thedischarge mouth of the pipe m to the inlet 6 of the pipe 17. A servicepipe 18 is also mounted within the water receptacle and extends from apoint above the top thereof and within the gasometer through thepartition 3 and thence laterally through the wall- I) of thewash-chamber and the wall of the condensing chamber B, thence upwardlyalong the outer side of the casing l where it is connected with apurifier E, which, in turn, is connected at its other end with a housepipe F, which, in eflect, forms an extension of the service pipe 18. Anescape or blow-ofi pipe 15 is also arranged within the water receptacleA and extends from a point above the top of the receptacle, andpreferably slightly above the upper ends of the pipes 17 and 18, throughthe partition 3 into the wash-chamber b, thence laterally through thewall I) of said wash-chamber and through the wall of the condensingchamber B, whence it extends upwardly along the side of the casing 1 toa point outside of the building in which the generator is installed. Theupper end of the pipe 15 extends into and is telescoped by a tube orpipe 0 carried by the gasometer. This tube is secured at its upper endto the central dome of the gasometer, as shown at 0 and extends downwardabout the waste pipe 15 to a point near the bottom of the gasometer. Ata point some distance above its lower end the tube 0 is provided with anaperture or apertures f. Should the accumulation of gas in thegasometer. be suflicient to carry the same upward beyond a predeterminedpoint the aperture f in the tube a will be carried above the level ofthe water in the gasometer and the gas will pass through the opening finto the waste pipe 15 and thus escape into the open air. As soon assufiicient gas has escaped to allow the gasometer to return to itsnormal position the opening in the tube will be again submerged and theflow of gas through the escape pipe cut off. The lower end of thetube 0is preferably supported by a transverse bar or brace 16 extending acrossthe lower end of the axle and seprevent the tube 0 from binding upon thepipe 151 This I- preferably accomplish by securing to the gasometer anannular ring or band, 0?, of metal, which not only maintains thegasometer in perfect balance, but also furtherstrengthens the lower endof the gasometer and increases the pressure on the gas within the same.15 is provided at a point within the condensing chamber B with an inletopening 6, by means of which any accumulations within that chamber maybe carried 0E.

The service pipe 18 is provided with means for permitting the escape ofthe gas therefrom in case of overpressure brought about by abnormalconditions. Thismeans of escape preferably comprises a nipple or shortportion of the service pipe within the condensing chamber Band extendingfor some distance beneath the surface of the water in The waste pipepipe 19 connected with the horizontal said chamber. Normally, this pipewould be M chamber, whence it would pass through the 5 opening 6 intothe escape pipe 15.

Any suitable means may be provided for filling the condensing chamberwith water and maintaining the same at the proper level therein. This Ipreferably accomplish by means of a funnel 6 supported on the outside ofthe casing 1 and communicating with the condensing chamber near thebottom thereof. By providing the funnel b with an outlet 0 at the heightat which it is desired to maintain the water within the chamber thefunnel will serve as an outlet and prevent the water rising within thechamber beyond the level of the outlet pipe 0. v

The gas generator proper is here shown as comprising a casing 9,preferably circula-r in cross section and having a partition 9 arrangedat a point between the upper and lower ends thereof and forming in theupper part thereof a water receptacle G. This casing g is rigidly butremovably secured to the casing 1, containing the water receptacle A bymeans of bars 20 extend- H ing between the two casings and securedthereto by means of bolts. Mounted wit-hin the water receptacle G are aplurality of carbid pans which, in the present instance, comprisea'single receptacle H divided into avseries of carbid containers,

The receptacle H 'is preferably cylindrical shape and is provided with abail 9 thus giving the same the general appearance of a bucket. Thisreceptacle is supported some distance above the bottom 9 of the waterreceptacle G by means of standards g which are secured to the bottom 9and are provided with shoulders upon which the receptacle H rests. Theseveral carbid containers formed within the receptacle H comprise acentral carbid container h, which is preferably circular in crosssection and is here shown as extending a short distance above the top ofthe receptacle H. The space lying between the wall of the container hand the wall of the receptacle H is divided by radial partitions into aseries of radial compartments h, each of which is in communication withthe central container 72, by means of an opening 71. in the wall of saidcentral container. 71. are arranged at difierent distances from thebottom of the central container, prefer-' ably in a regular order orstep by step manner, as shown in the development of the wall of saidcentral container in Fig. 7.

The water is fed directly to the central container h in the mannerhereafter to be described and the amount of carbid in this container issuch that by the time the water has reached the level of the lowermostopening 11. the carbid within said central container will have beenexhausted. As soon as the water reaches the level of the lowermostopening 72. it passes through that opening into the corresponding carbidcontainer h and immediately attacks the carbid therein, thus continuingthe.generation of gas. tainer is likewise such that, by the time thewater has reached the level of the opening therein, the carbid withinsaid container will have been exhausted. The water in the centralcontainer will then rise to the level of the next higher opening 72, andwill enter the corresponding container h directly from the centralcontainer, this operation being continued until all the containers havebeen filled with water and all the carbid within the receptacleexhausted, when it becomes necessary to empty and recharge the severalcontainers which is easily accomplished by removing the receptacle bymeans of a bail 9 It will be noted that the carbid containers areinclosed within an inverted bell or a Q dome I, wh1ch 1s ofsuch a sizeas to completely 'inclose the receptacle H and to extend downwardly andrest upon the bottom of the water receptacle G, thus forming a waterseal which effectually prevent-s theescape of gas from the generatingchamber formed within the same. I is provided with suitable handles 6 toenable the same to be readily removed.

The water is preferably conveyed to the= These several openings Theamount of carbid in this con- 1 This bell or dome central carbidcontainer 72. by means of a pipe 21 supported at one side of the casing1 and having a funnel-shaped upper end. This pipe extends downwardly toa point beneath the bottom g of the water receptacle G of the generator,thence laterally through the wall of the casing g and upwardly throughthe bottom g of said receptacle to a point above the receptacle H, whereit is provided with a laterally extending arm which discharges into thecentral container. This horizontal arm is swiveled to the verticalportion of the pipe to enable the same to be swung to one side to permitthe removal of the receptacle H. The U- shaped portion of the pipe 21forms a water seal which effectually prevents the escape of gas throughsaid pipe. The water is preferably conveyed to the pipe 21 from thewater receptacle A through a pipe 22 communicating with said waterreceptacle A and having its discharge end supported above thefunnel-shaped upper end of the water supply pipe 21. The pipe 22 isprovided with a double valve L which preferably comprises two turn plugvalves 6 and Z. The upper valve plug Z is provided with an arm which isconnected by a rod 70 with a locking bar J, which is pivotally connect--ed at one side of the Water receptacle Gr of the generator proper,extends across the top of the same in a position to lock the invertedbell I in position therein and is locked against movement by means of aspring catch is secured to the wall of the water receptacle G. Thearrangement of the arm 70 and rod 70 is such that, when the bar J is inposition to lock the bell or cover I in position, the valve plug Z willbe in its open position, but when the barJ is raised to permit theremoval of the receptacle H, the valve plug Z will be turned into aposition to cut off the flow of water through the valve, therebyautomatically stopping the flow of water to the generator when theretaining bar J is moved into such a position as to permit the generatorto be opened. The interior of the generating chamber is connected withthe waste pipe 15 by means of a branch pipe 15. In the present instancethe pipe 15 is shown as connected at one end to the gas pipe at leadingfrom the generating chamber to the wash chamber 3) and at its other endto the waste pipe 15. A valve 70 controls the flow of gas through thepipe 15 and this valve, in turn, is controlled by the retaining bar J.The bar J is preferably connected directly to the stem of the valve 70and this valve member forms the pivotal -center for the retaining bar;The .valve 10 is so arranged that, when the retaining bar is in itsnormal position to secure the bell or cover I in position, the pipe 15will be closed against the passage ofgas, but, when the bar J is movedinto position to permit the removal of the "receptacle H,

the pipe 15 will be opened and will thus place the waste pipe 15 in opencommunication with the interior of the generating chamber, therebypermitting any gas remaining in that chamber to escape. The flow ofwater through the pipe 22, to pipe 21 is also automatically controlledby the rise and fall of the gasometer C, and, to this end, the valveplug Z has secured thereto an arm n which extends on the opposite sidesof said valve plug and is provided at one end with a weightn and at itsother end is connected to a rod n which extends upwardly through aguideway or bracket n and has at its upper end an inwardly extendingfinger a. Mounted on the gasometer G and arranged directly above theinwardly extending finger. a of the rod a is an operating member M whichpreferably comprises a strip of metal bent upon itself to form aguideway and secured to a bracket M carried by the gasometer in such amanner as to cause said guideway to extend at an inclination to thefinger a of the rod a. When the operating member M is out of engagementwith the finger n the weight a will retain the valve plug 'Z in itsclosed position, thus cutting off the flow of water to the carbidcontainer. As the supply of gas in the gasometer is consumed and itmoves downwardly, the finger n of the rod a will enter the guideway inthe member M and the continued downward movement of the gasometer willcause this member to force the rod a downward and open the valve Z, thusagain admitting the water to the carbid container.

The further generation of gas which immediately follows the admission ofwater to the carbid again elevates the gasometer G,

and, as it rises, the guideway M and the finger a on the rod 11 moveupward therewith, the weight n moving the lever a about its pivotalcenter and thus retaining the finger n in the guide M until the leverhas completed its movement when it is permitted to escape from the.guideway. This movement of the lever n moves the valve plug Z into itsclosed position and again cuts off theflow of water to the carbidcontainer, thus again stopping the generation of gas until the gas inthe gasometer has been partially consumed.

Means are also provided for connecting the service pipe 18 with thewaste pipe 15 in the case of an emergency. This means preferablyconsists of a short pipe 79 con-- necting the service pipe with thebranch pipe 15 which is connected with the waste pipe 15. The pipe 12has a cut-off p, by means of which the service pipe can be instantlyconnected with the waste pipe. The service pipe is also provided with acut-off 1" having an operating handle 3, by means of which the housepipe F can be cut ofi from the generator if desired. I have alsoprovided the water receptacle A, condensing chamber B and waterreceptacle G of the generator with outlets controlled by plugs 0, 0 and0 respectively, by means of which these receptacles can be drained.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from thedescription of the operation of the several 'parts thereof, and it willbe apparent that in a generator as herein constructed, the water is feddirectly and quickly to the carbid,'it being discharged directly ontothe carbid in the central container h, thus securing a quick generationof gas and likewise enabling the flow of water to the carbid to beinstantly cut off, this flow stopping the instant either valve of thedouble valve L is closed. Further, inasmuch as the water flows directlyfrom the central container h to the particular container in which thegas is being generated, there is but a small quantity of water to draininto that container from the carbid container h. after the flow of waterhas been-cut off in the pipe 21. As is well known, the surface of a bodyof water will rise some distance above the edge of an opening before itflows through that opening, and, if the surface of this water is of anyconsiderable extent there remains a considerable amount of water whichwill drain through the opening after the supply has been out off fromthe main body. When this condition of affairs exists in a generator itcauses a large amount of after generation and ,a consequent waste ofcarbid. In the present construction the body of water which feeds theseveral carbid containers is of small area, and, consequently, there isbut a very small flow of water to the carbid container h after thesupply of water has been cut off from the central container. It willfurther be noted that the carbid receptacle H as a whole sets in thewater contained in the receptacle G which extends beneath the same andsurrounds it to a point near the upper end thereof, thus maintaining thecarbid and the interior of the generating chamber at a low temperaturewhich is important for the successful manufacture of gas. Again, it willbe observed that I have provided means for positively controlling theflow of water to the central carbid container, which means is controlledby the rise and fall of the gasometer; and also that I have providedother means for controlling the flow of water to the carbid container,which means is controlled by the movement of the retaining bar, by meansof which the cover or dome is secured in position within the waterreceptacle G. Likewise, it will be observed that the movementof theretaining J into its operative or inoperative position connects'ordisconnects the interior of the generating chamber with the waste pipeso that, before the generating chamber can be opened, the interiorthereof must be connected with the waste pipe to permit the gas toescape. In this manner it will be noticed that the movement of theretaining bar J into its inoperative position, 2'. e., into a positionto permit the removal of the cover or dome I, will simultaneously out OKthe flow of water to the carbid containers, independent-1y of the position of the automatically controlled valve, and will, at the sametime, connect the generating chamber with the waste pipe. Thus, thegeneration of gas is stopped and the gas within the chamber escapesbefore the generator can be opened. It will be obvious, therefore, thatno water can enter the carbid container to start the generation of gasuntil the closure is in position and the retaining bar J in its lockingposition. If the gas in the bell C is low and the valve Z is open thewater will enter the central container and start the" generation of gasas soon as the movement of the bar J opens the valve Z. Otherwise, theflow of water to the containers will not begin until sufli: cient gashas been consumed to permit the bell to drop far enough to open thevalve Z. Moreover, it willbe observed that by combining a positiveautomatic control of the flow of water with the arrangement of carbidcontainers, by means of which the water is fed directly to the carbid, Iam enabled to feed to the carbid the exact amount of water required togenerate the gas necessary for immediate consumption, thereby preventingafter generation and maintaining the generator at a low temperature andthus preventing the dangerous polymerization or splitting up of theacetylene gas into other hydrocarbon gases of inferior quality, whichoften occurs in improperly constructed generators.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described the carbidcontainers as comprising a central container and several othercontainers grouped about the said central container, the term centralcon tainer is used to designate that container into which the water isfirst discharged and from which it is distributed successively to theother containers, and it is not essential that this central containershould form the center of the group of containers. I further wish it tobe understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details ofconstruction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occurto a person skilled in the art.

, Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new anddesire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a generator comprising areceptacle forming a generating chamber, a closure for said receptacle,a plurality of containers mounted within said chamber and each adaptedto contain a quantity of carbid, and means for starting the generationof gas by introducing water into one of said containers for the firsttime after said closure is in place, said container being in directcommuication with each of the other containers.

'2. In a device of the character described, a generator comprising areceptacle forming a generating chamber, a closure therefor, a carbidcontainer mounted in said chamber, means for starting the generation ofgas by introducing water into said container for the first time aftersaid closure is in place, a plurality of other containers arranged aboutthe exterior of the first-mentioned container, said first-mentionedcontainer having a series of openings in the wall thereof arranged atdifferent distances from the bottom thereof and connecting saidfirstmentioned container with each of the other containers.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination, with agasometer, and a receptacle forming a generating chamber, of

a plurality of containers mounted within said chamber and each adaptedto contain a quantity of carbid, means for feeding water to the carbidin one of said containers to start the generation of-gas, said containerbeing in direct communication with each of the other containers, andmeans actuated by the rise and fall of said gasometer to control theflow of water to said container after the generation of gas has begun.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination, with agasometer, and a receptacle forming a generating chamber, of

a carbid container mounted within said chamber, means for feeding waterto said carbid container to start the generation of gas, a plurality ofother carbid containers arranged about the first-mentioned container,said first-mentioned container having a series of openings in the wallthereof arranged at different distances from the bottom thereof andconnecting said firstmentioned container with each of the othercontainers, and means actuated by the rise and fall of said gasometer tocontrol the flow of water to said container after the generation of gashas begun.

5. In a device of the character described, a generator comprising areceptacle, a closure therefor, a plurality of containers mounted withinsaid receptacle and each adapted to receive a quantity of carbid, one ofsaid containers being in direct communication with each of the othercontainers, a water supply pipe extending into said receptacle andhaving a swiveled arm extending above and adapted to discharge into Witheach of the other containers, and means for controlling the flow ofWater through saidpipe.

6. In a deviceof the character described, a generator comprising areceptacle adapted to contain a quantity of Water, a bell-like closureadapted "to be inserted in said receptacle and to form a generatingchamber Within the same, a carbid receptacle mounted Within saidgenerating chamber and comprising a series of compartments each adaptedto contain a quantity of carbid and one of said compartments, being incommunication With each of the other compartments, means for removablysupporting said carbid receptacle at a point above the bottom of saidWater receptacle, and means for feeding Water into that compartment ofCopies of this patent may be obtained for said receptacle which is incommunication With the other compartments thereof.

7. The combination in a device for the automatic generation of gas fromcalciumcarbld, of a Water-reservoir provlded with na ls-era a dischargemeans; agasometer operatively connected With said reservoir; agas-generator having an open Water chamber and provided With acarbid-bucket formed With a Well or central carbid-compartment, aplurality of carbid-compartments about said central compartment, meansof communication leading from said central compartment in successivesteps to each of said other compartments; a Water-supply leading to saidgenerator; a removable lid or cover adapted to rest on said generatorand inclose said bucket; and a controlling lever to retain said cover inposition and control the flow of Water to said generator by itsmovements; all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I afiiX my signature, in presence of twoWitnesses. v

IRA MUMMA. Witnesses:

J. B. REED, A. R. WULFF.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington,D. 0.

arranged

